Good afternoon. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has landed in the US for a critical four-day visit where the Israel-Hamas war will feature prominently on the agenda.
On the ground, a second convoy of 14 aid trucks has entered the Gaza Strip as Israel steps up its bombardment of the enclave. The UN has warned that the volume of aid is a fraction of what is needed, and the White House has promised a “continued flow” of aid into Gaza. On the diplomatic front, Western leaders have issued a joint statement urging Israel abide by international law while underscoring their support for the country, and Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, is due to land in Tehran to discuss the crisis.
Israel says it is intensifying its attacks in the north of Gaza, while Palestinian media reported airstrikes in the strip’s southern cities hours after the Israeli military called on Gaza’s residents to move south “for your own safety”.
Top news
Australia in ‘the midst of a food security crisis’ | Across Australia, 3.7m households have experienced food insecurity over the past 12 months, a jump of almost 350,000 on the previous year, Foodbank’s annual hunger report has revealed.
Last refugees in PNG to leave ‘within weeks’ | The final group of refugees still held in Papua New Guinea a decade after being exiled there by Australia will begin leaving “within weeks”, the country’s migration chief has committed, saying the majority will be resettled in New Zealand, while those suffering acute health problems will be brought to Australia for treatment.
Alyssa Healy sidelined after dog bite leads to surgery | The cricket star is hopeful of being fit for Australia’s tour of India after surgery for a gory index finger injury suffered when she put her hand between her two dogs as they were fighting.
Mystery case of Sorrento beach woman found dead in 1966 revived | Police have released a digitally generated image of an unknown woman found dead in the water at a Victorian beach 57 years ago in a bid to solve the mystery. Detectives are appealing for public assistance to identify the woman.
‘Abortion pill reversal’ ban blocked | A US district court judge has blocked a law that would have been the first in the United States to ban a controversial practice known as “abortion pill reversal”. The judge ruled in favour of a Catholic health clinic that had argued the law infringed on its first amendment rights.
Argentina’s Trump fails to win first round of elections | The eccentric far-right populist Javier Milei came in second in Argentina’s presidential election, unexpectedly, to centrist finance minister Sergio Massa. The pair will now face off in a second round on 19 November.
South China Sea collisions | China and the Philippines have traded blame for two separate collisions on Sunday between Chinese vessels and Philippine boats on resupply missions in the disputed South China Sea.
In pictures
Moments of magic and bliss
Check out Chris Burkard’s phenomenal photo essay of the world’s oceans.
What they said …
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“It’s very important that we remain focused on the Indo-Pacific region. We will certainly be urging the United States to continue what they have done, which is to step up in the region.” – Anthony Albanese
The PM is hoping the war in the Middle East doesn’t pull the US away from the Asia Pacific.
In numbers
These are the latest figures from the authorities in Gaza. Israel has been attacking the enclave since 7 October, when a Hamas attack inside Israel killed more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians.
Before bed read
Georgia Harrison’s life was almost destroyed when an ex secretly filmed them having sex and posted it online. He went to prison – and she waived her right to anonymity to help the many women similarly affected. Read our interview with the reality star.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: AGMA. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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